Primates in Peril

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Red Ruffed Lemur Varecia rubra É. Geoffroy, 1812 Madagascar (2012, 2014) Christoph Schwitzer, Russell A. Mittermeier, Edward E. Louis Jr. & Matthew Richardson Red Ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra) (Illustration: Stephen D. Nash) rivers has been investigated as a possible contact or hybrid zone between the two, but without conclusive results (Tattersall 1982; Lindsay and Simons 1986; Vasey and Tattersall 2002; Hekkala et al. 2007). With a head-body-length of 50–55 cm and a body mass of 3.0–3.6 kg (Vasey 2003), Varecia rubra is a large member of the Lemuridae. It inhabits primary and some secondary moist lowland forest (up to 1200 m above sea level) and prefers tall forest, where it is often observed in the crowns of large feeding trees. The species feeds mainly on fruit, supplemented with flowers, nectar, and leaves. In one study conducted between May and November (Rigamonti 1993), red ruffed lemurs fed on ripe fruits for 73.9% of their feeding time, flowers for 5.3%, and leaves for 20.9% (18.3% of these mature). Only a few plant species were used as food resources: 72.5% of the observed feeding bouts occurred in only seven tree species. The animals fed on 42 plant species altogether, compared to 106 species that would have been available to them in their home range area. The composition of the diet varied from month to month, but fruits were consistently the main item, even when they were hard to find. The core areas used within their territories always correlated with large, fruit-bearing trees. In the cold-wet season, when few fruits are available, the study group split up into subgroups to use different core areas. Females are reported to eat more low-fibre, high-protein items (young leaves and flowers) prior to giving birth and during lactation, presumably to meet the higher energy demands of reproduction (Vasey 2000a, 2002). At Andranobe, 132 different plant species from 36 families were eaten over the course of a year (Vasey 2000b). The red ruffed lemur is confined to the Masoala Peninsula and the region immediately north of the Bay of Antongil in northeastern Madagascar (Petter and Petter-Rousseaux 1979; Tattersall 1982). It may have occurred as far north as Antalaha in the past, but this is not certain (Tattersall 1977). The Antainambalana River appears to separate it from V. variegata subcincta, and recent surveys have shown that the westernmost This species has been studied in the forests of distribution of V. rubra is near the confluence of the Ambatonakolahy (Rigamonti 1993) and Andranobe Antainambalana and Sahantaha Rivers (Hekkala et al. (Vasey 1997a) on the Masoala Peninsula. Social 2007). Variations in colour pattern are well known in this organization is described as fission/fusion, and species, but have not been attributed to clear geographic communities are usually multimale-multifemale and regions. It may intergrade with V. variegata subcincta; number 5–31 individuals. Home ranges cover 23–58 the confluence of the Vohimara and Antainambalana ha and appear to be defended (Rigamonti 1993; Vasey 33
2006). In one study at Andranobe, V. rubra spent 28% of its time feeding, 53% resting, and 19% traveling. Females fed more and rested less than males (Vasey 2005). The species is most active during the hot rainy season. Mating occurs in early July, and infants are born in October and fully weaned by February (Vasey 2007). The red ruffed lemur is classified as Critically Endangered (Andriaholinirina et al. 2014) based on a suspected population reduction of ≥80% over a 3-generation time period of 24 years. The principal threats to the species are habitat loss and hunting (Simons and Lindsay 1987; Rigamonti 1996; Vasey 1996, 1997b; Borgerson 2015). Because of their large size and evident need for tall primary forest, these animals are particularly susceptible to human encroachment (Borgerson 2015), and hunting and trapping for food still takes place. Furthermore, remaining populations are concentrated on the Masoala Peninsula, and they may be threatened by the frequent cyclones that hit this part of Madagascar. The only protected area where Varecia rubra is known to occur is Masoala National Park (Kremen 1998). Masoala was the national park most affected by the very rapid upsurge of illegal logging after the political events of early 2009, and this logging has continued well into 2010. Population density has been variously estimated at 6 individuals/km² (Rakotondratsima and Kremen 2001; Borgerson 2015 [at an unnamed village site]), 17 individuals/km² (Borgerson 2015 [at an unnamed forest site away from villages]), 21–23 individuals/ km² in Ambatonakolahy (Rigamonti 1993), and 31–54 individuals/km² in Andranobe (Vasey 1997b). The IUCN lemur conservation strategy 2013–2016 (Schwitzer et al. 2013) proposes a suite of conservation measures for Masoala National Park to ensure the conservation of the red ruffed lemur: further patrols and surveillance; campaigns of environmental education and awareness; and support for small-scale husbandry of domestic animals as a source of protein. As of 2015, there were 600 red ruffed lemurs reported in captivity worldwide (ISIS 2015). Such populations in American and European zoos represent a safeguard against extinction, but they are unfortunately very limited in their genetic diversity (Schwitzer 2003). References Andriaholinirina, N., A. Baden, M. Blanco, L. Chikhi, A. Cooke, N. Davies, R. Dolch, G. Donati, J. Ganzhorn, C. Golden, L. F. Groeneveld, A. Hapke, M. Irwin, S. Johnson, P. Kappeler, T. King, R. Lewis, E. E. Louis, M. Markolf, V. Mass, R. A. Mittermeier, R. Nichols, E. Patel, C. J. Rabarivola, B. Raharivololona, S. Rajaobelina, G. Rakotoarisoa, B. Rakotomanga, J. Rakotonanahary, H. Rakotondrainibe, G. Rakotondratsimba, M. Rakotondratsimba, L. Rakotonirina, F. B. Ralainasolo, J. Ralison, T. Ramahaleo, J. F. Ranaivoarisoa, S. I. Randrianahaleo, B. Randrianambinina, L. Randrianarimanana, H. Randrianasolo, G. Randriatahina, H. Rasamimananana, T. Rasolofoharivelo, S. Rasoloharijaona, F. Ratelolahy, J. Ratsimbazafy, N. Ratsimbazafy, H. Razafindraibe, J. Razafindramanana, N. Rowe, J. Salmona, M. Seiler, S. Volampeno, P. Wright, J. Youssouf, J. Zaonarivelo and A. Zaramody. 2014. Varecia rubra. In: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T22920A16121712. Accessed 09 September 2015. Borgerson, C. 2015. The effects of illegal hunting and habitat on two sympatric endangered primates. International Journal of Primatology 36: 74–93. Hekkala, E. R., M. Rakotondratsima and N. Vasey. 2007. Habitat and distribution of the ruffed lemur, Varecia, north of the Bay of Antongil in north-eastern Madagascar. Primate Conservation (22): 89–95. ISIS. 2015. Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) version 2.2, released 29 June 2015. ISIS, Apple Valley, MN. Kremen, C. 1998. Madagascar creates its largest protected area on the Masoala Peninsula. Lemur News 3: 1–3. Lindsay, N. B. D. and H. J. Simons. 1986. Notes on Varecia in the northern limits of its range. Dodo 23: 29–24. Petter, J.-J. and A. Petter-Rousseaux. 1979. Classification of the prosimians. In: The Study of Prosimian Behavior, G. A. Doyle and R. D. Martin (eds.), pp.359–409. Academic Press, New York. Rakotondratsima, M. and C. Kremen. 2001. Suivi écologique de deux espèces de lémuriens diurnes Varecia variegata rubra et Eulemur fulvus albifrons dans la presqu’île de Masoala (1993–1998). Lemur News 6: 31–35. 34
Page 2 and 3: Primates in Peril: The World’s 25
Page 4 and 5: Contents Acknowledgements..........
Page 6 and 7: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Pr
Page 8 and 9: Table 2. Primate species included o
Page 10 and 11: Photos of some of the Top 25 Most E
Page 12 and 13: 7
Page 14 and 15: 9
Page 16 and 17: Rondo Dwarf Galago Galagoides rondo
Page 18 and 19: A new project to address these cons
Page 20 and 21: potential and roloways have been re
Page 22 and 23: Preuss’s Red Colobus Piliocolobus
Page 24 and 25: Groves, C. P. 2007. The taxonomic d
Page 26 and 27: There are six (perhaps seven) other
Page 28 and 29: Grauer’s Gorilla Gorilla beringei
Page 30 and 31: (WCS unpublished data), is encourag
Page 32 and 33: Lavasoa Mountains Dwarf Lemur Cheir
Page 34 and 35: Hapke, A., J. Fietz, S. D. Nash, D.
Page 36 and 37: of hunting and trapping are employe
Page 40 and 41: Rigamonti, M. M. 1993. Home range a
Page 42 and 43: In 2008, the Service d’Appui à l
Page 44 and 45: km 2 ) in Banks et al. (2007), for
Page 46 and 47: Salmona, J., R. Heller, E. Quémér
Page 48 and 49: Philippine Tarsier Carlito syrichta
Page 50 and 51: Javan Slow Loris Nycticebus javanic
Page 52 and 53: Moore et al. (2014) assessed the su
Page 54 and 55: Thorn, J. S., V. Nijman, D. Smith,
Page 56 and 57: peat-swamp forests, S. c. siberu ha
Page 58 and 59: Delacour’s Langur Trachypithecus
Page 60 and 61: Nadler, T. 2012. Reintroduction of
Page 62 and 63: one group consisting of two females
Page 64 and 65: and gunshots were recorded commonly
Page 66 and 67: ut do occur. Aggression is quite ra
Page 68 and 69: Western Purple-faced Langur Semnopi
Page 70 and 71: in the community and in nearby town
Page 72 and 73: Hainan Gibbon Nomascus hainanus (Th
Page 74 and 75: hainanus and the Eastern black gibb
Page 76 and 77: equire vast areas of contiguous rai
Page 78 and 79: 73 !"#$%#&'() #$%$#&'#(") *+,")+$#&
Page 80 and 81: is relatively well preserved and pr
Page 82 and 83: Province, and adjacent regions of I
Page 84 and 85: Due to the threats of habitat loss
Page 86 and 87: San Martín Titi Monkey Callicebus
Page 88 and 89:
Northern Brown Howler Alouatta guar
Page 90 and 91:
References Brazil, MMA, ICMBio-CPB.
Page 92 and 93:
Editors’ addresses Mittermeier, R
Page 94 and 95:
Louis, Jr., Edward E. Omaha’s Hen
Page 96 and 97:
Vermeer, Jan Proyecto Mono Tocón,
Page 98:
The Species Survival Commission (SS
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